Katy B

Kathleen Anne Brien (born 8 May 1989), better known as Katy B, is an English singer and songwriter.[1][2] She released her debut studio album, On a Mission, in 2011, which spawned two top five hits, "Katy on a Mission" and "Lights On". In 2014 she released her second studio album, Little Red, which produced her third top five hit, "Crying for No Reason". Her third, and most recent, studio album, Honey, was released in 2016.

For the Canadian singer-songwriter formerly known as Katie B, see Katie Rox.

Katy B
At Argos digital store launch in London, October 2014
At Argos digital store launch in London, October 2014
Background information
Birth nameKathleen Anne Brien
Also known asBaby Katy
Born (1989-05-08) 8 May 1989
Peckham, London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • DJ
Years active2007–present
Labels

Early life

Kathleen Anne Brien was born on 8 May 1989, in Peckham, London,[3] where she attended at Lyndhurst Primary School, Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College,[4] and the BRIT School. Katy also attended at the Glenlyn Academy in South London, where she took dance classes.[2] Katy's father (David O'Brien) was a member of the Les Humphries Singers, who represented Germany at Eurovision 1976, with the song "Sing Sang Song".[5] Katy B possesses a soprano vocal range.[6][7]

Career

2007–2012: On a Mission
Katy B performing in 2011

Katy has guested on many tracks, both before and during her album release campaign. DJ NG's song "Tell Me", on which she featured as Baby Katy,[8] was initially released on a white label and then later signed to Ministry of Sound.[9][10] She also provided vocals on the track "Hold Me" for The Count & Sinden's debut album Mega Mega Mega,[11] and features on Magnetic Man's tracks "Perfect Stranger" and "Crossover".[12]

Katy B has also collaborated with Rinse FM[13] DJ Geeneus to cover the Kevin Saunderson produced "Good Life"[14] and the track "As I".[15] It was following the official recognition of the former pirate radio station Rinse FM in June 2010[16] that Katy B saw her first single release: "Katy on a Mission", presented by Rinse and produced by Benga, was released on 22 August 2010.[17][18] The single reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the UK Indie Chart.

Katy B performed at the London Jazz Festival in 2009 with Ms Dynamite,[19] who also featured on Katy's second single "Lights On", which was released in the United Kingdom on 19 December 2010, and debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart. Her third single "Broken Record" was released in March 2011, and peaked at number eight. The fourth single "Easy Please Me" was released on 3 June 2011. Her fifth single "Witches' Brew" was released on 28 August 2011. Katy's debut album On a Mission was released on 4 April 2011, and peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart.

Katy B supported Tinie Tempah on his tour during Spring of 2011, and on 30 April 2011 she embarked on her own debut concert tour throughout Europe until September, then the UK in October.[20] In 2011, Katy B and Mark Ronson teamed up for the song "Anywhere in the World", which was created as an advert for Coca-Cola to tie in with the 2012 Summer Olympics, and was released as a digital download on 13 May 2012.

2013–2014: Little Red
Katy B in 2013

On 1 October 2013, Katy announced that her second studio album would be titled Little Red.[21] A single, "What Love Is Made Of", was released on 7 July 2013, charting at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart; although when the official Little Red track list was revealed on 13 December, "What Love Is Made Of" was no longer included.[22] Lead single "5 AM" was released on 4 November 2013, charting at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. "Crying for No Reason" was released on 10 February 2014, reaching the Top 5 of the singles chart.[23] Little Red topped the UK Albums Chart on 19 February 2014.[24] "Still" was released as the third and final single from the album.[25]

On 18 February 2014, Katy's video for the ongoing 'Rinse Sessions x Metropolis' project was revealed, which included a back-to-back cover of Beyoncé's 'Drunk in Love' and Tinashe's "Vulnerable".[26] In February, she also appeared on the BBC One show The Voice as Ricky Wilson's team mentor.[27]

In March 2014, Katy took part in the recording of England's 2014 World Cup song, collaborating with fellow pop stars Melanie C, Eliza Doolittle, Emma Bunton, Conor Maynard, Kimberley Walsh and Pixie Lott on "Greatest Day", a track originally performed by the British band Take That. The track was produced by Gary Barlow and recorded at Sarm Studios in London, and also featured former footballers such as Gary Lineker, Michael Owen, Geoff Hurst, David Seaman, Peter Shilton, Glenn Hoddle and Dion Dublin on backing vocals. She performed at Birmingham Pride in May 2014.

2015–2021: Honey and Peace and Offerings

In October 2015, Katy provided vocals, along with Tinie Tempah on "Turn the Music Louder (Rumble)", a re-worked version of British DJ KDA's track "Rumble". It topped the UK charts becoming Katy's first UK number one single.

In December 2015, Katy confirmed in a backstage interview at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball that her third studio album would be called Honey and would be released sometime in 2016. It was also confirmed that a track of the same name would feature. The album was released on 22 April 2016, containing 14 songs.[28][29]

On 5 August 2021, Katy announced "Under My Skin" as the lead single from her EP, Peace and Offerings. Katy released Peace and Offerings on 5 November 2021.

2022–present

On 21 March 2023, Katy released the single "Paradise", in collaboration with Kings of the Rollers.[30][31] The single debuted at number 93 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart ten days later.[32]

Political views

In November 2019, along with 34 other musicians, Katy signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2019 UK general election with a call to end austerity.[33]

Discography
Main article: Katy B discography

Studio albums

Tours

Awards and nominations

Katy B has received five nominations at the MOBO Awards. She was nominated for Best Push Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2011. In 2011 she was also nominated for the Mercury Prize. In 2012 she won a NME Award for Dancefloor Anthem.

Year Organisation Award Nominated work Result
2011 Rober Awards Music Poll[34] Best Dance Anthem "Easy Please Me" Nominated
Ivor Novello Awards Best Contemporary Song "Katy on a Mission"
Virgin Media Music Awards Best Track
Best Collaboration Katy B and Ms. Dynamite
Best Newcomer Herself
Best Female
Hottest Female
Best Album On a Mission
Mercury Prize Album of the Year
MOBO Awards Best Album
Best UK Act Herself
BT Digital Music Awards Best Newcomer
Best Female Artist
Q Awards Breakthrough Artist
MTV Europe Music Awards 2011 Best Push Act
iTunes Rewind 2011 Best New Dance Artist
4Music Video Honours[35] Best Video "Lights On" Nominated
2012 NME Awards Best Dancefloor Anthem "Broken Record" Won
2013 "What You Came For" (ft. Mosca) Nominated
2014 MOBO Awards Best Album Little Red Nominated
Best Female Act Herself
Popjustice £20 Music Prize Best British Pop Single "Crying for No Reason"
UK Music Video Awards Best Pop Video - UK
4Music Video Honours Best Girl Herself
World Music Awards World's Best Female Artist
World's Best Live Act
World's Best Entertainer of the Year
World's Best Album Little Red
World's Best Song "Crying for No Reason"
World's Best Video
"What Love Is Made Of"
World's Best Song
2015 Popjustice £20 Music Prize Best British Pop Single "Turn the Music Louder (Rumble)"
2016 MOBO Awards Best Female Act Herself
Juno Awards Dance Recording of the Year "Save Me" (with Keys N Krates) Won

References
  1. "Katy B". MTV Artists.
  2. "The Gaymers Camden Crawl 2010: Artists: Katy B". The Camden Crawl. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  3. UK Funky Live (16 August 2009). Katy B Interview (Webcast). YouTube. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  4. Reviewed Simon Price (7 May 2011). "Katy B, Academy, ManchesterDeath From Above 1979, Forum, London". The Independent.
  5. "Katy B Reveals Her Eurovision Roots on Graham Norton Show". Wiwi Bloggs. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  6. "Katy B: Regular Girl Turned UK Dance Diva". MTV Hive. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  7. Welton, Blake (29 July 2016). "Multi-talented singer-songwriter Katy B is just an ordinary girl next door". Daily Post. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  8. "BBC – 1Xtra – Footloose". BBC 1Xtra. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  9. "Addicted to Bass Collection (6CD)". Ministry of Sound. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  10. "Clubbers Guide Summer 2008". Ministry of Sound. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  11. "The Count & Sinden: New Album: Mega Mega Mega Free Album Mix". Domino Records. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  12. Lester, Paul (9 July 2010). "New band of the day – No 822: Magnetic Man". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  13. Fallon, Patric (5 February 2010). "Download a Free Mix From Geeneus". XLR8R. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  14. Rees, Thomas (22 May 2010). "Good Life". XLR8R. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  15. "Benji B, RBMA Special". BBC 1Xtra. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  16. Hancox, Dan (18 June 2010). "Rinse FM finally gets the recognition it deserves". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  17. "Katy B – Katy on a Mission". Rinse FM. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  18. "Annie Mac Presents: Katy B – On A Mission". Annie Mac Presents. 9 July 2010. Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  19. "Ladies Unplugged: Ms Dynamite + Katy B + Yolanda Brown + Shola Ama • Events • London Jazz Festival". London Jazz Festival. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  20. "Rinse FM – Katy B – Lights on feat. Ms Dynamite – OUT NOW!!". Rinse.fm. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  21. "Katy B announces new album 'Little Red' at London show". Digital Spy. 2 October 2013.
  22. "Katy B - Timeline Photos - Facebook". facebook.com.
  23. "Katy B - Crying for No Reason - Music Video". What's Good? Online. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  24. "Katy B tops the UK album chart with Little Red". BBC News. 16 February 2014.
  25. "Still (Remixes) - Single". iTunes. 2 May 2014.
  26. "Amazing Cover of 'Drunk' In Love By Katy B - Katy B - Rinse Sessions x Metropolis". What's Good? Online. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  27. Wightman, Catriona (25 February 2014). "The Voice: Katy B, Tinie Tempah, more join as mentors – pictures". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  28. EXCLUSIVE: Katy B reveals title of brand new album. 6 December 2015. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  29. "Katy B "Honey" [Third Album]". BeatCog. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  30. Murray, Robin (22 March 2023). "Katy B Links With Kings Of The Rollers For 'Paradise'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  31. "Katy B and Kings of the Rollers - Paradise". Spotify. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  32. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100 31 March 2023 - 06 April 2023". Official Charts. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  33. "Musicians backing Jeremy Corbyn's Labour". The Guardian. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  34. Bond, Jay. "The Rober Awards 2011 Music Poll | Rober Awards". Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  35. "4Music - News - News - 4Music Video Honours 2011 - Best Video Nominees". 27 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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